FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Find here all your answers on your questions. If you can not find it then contact us.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Indonesian currency is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). 1 euro is approximately 15.000 Rupiah.
The national language is Bahasa Indonesia, but every island has its own language / dialect as well. In Bali they speak Balinese and Bahasa Indonesia. Most people in Bali also speak English, but here’s the first and most important Bahasa word:”Terima Kasih” (meaning: “Thank you”)!
No, for stays under 30 days you can enter and stay in Indonesia without a visa. if you want to stay up to 60 days you can buy a Visa On Arrival (VOA) when you arrive at the airport of Bali. Don’t forget that you have to extend your VOA within the first 30 days and have to go to immigration in Bali for pictures and fingerprints.
Bali is a developed island. It is not necessary to take Rupiah from your home country. There are plenty of ATMs around. In the airport, you will definitely find 2 or 3 ATMs. A good starting amount is 1 Million Rupiah that is equal to about 65 euro.
Don’t forget to take out your card from the ATM. The ATM provides money first then usually it will ask for another transaction before it will return your card.
The weather in Bali is very consistent temperature-wise and offers a lot of beach time. It is day and night warm with temperatures always above 23C – 26C during the night and day above 26C to 32C. Bali knows two seasons: Dry-Season and Wet-Season. Dry-Season: May till October and Wet-Season: November till April. Wet season is the hottest time of the year as well and is still good for Holidays. The rain will feel like an outdoor lukewarm shower. It hardly rains all day and the rain starts usually early in the morning and late in the afternoon. During the day it is mostly hot and sunny. Also in the wet season, there are weeks that there is hardly any rain at all. So Bali offers year-round good weather conditions with a very very nice temperature throughout the year.
There’s a 6 to 8 hours time difference between Bali and Europe depending on where you are from and if your country has winter or summer time. In Bali the hour doesn’t change throughout the year, it’s in the GMT +8 time zone all year round. So for example in winter in The Netherlands it’s 7 hours later in Bali, in Summer in The Netherlands it’s 7 hours later in Bali.
- Summer Clothes
- Bikin / board shorts
- Flip flops
- Sunscreen with high protection
- Mosquitos repellent
- Beach towel
- Camera /GoPro
- Leggings (some people get surf rash from rubbing against the surfboard or get bad sunburns. The simple solution is either a wetsuit or leggings)
AIRLINES – AIRPORT & BUS TRANSFERS
If you are already in Bali we have several pick-up and drop-off options. If you are in Kuta or Seminyak our driver will pick you up or drop you off for free (only if you stay with us for at least 7 days). If you want to be picked up or dropped off in Ubud the price is 275.000 IDR, the price for a pick-up or drop-off in Sanur is 250.000 IDR. If you are in a different part of Bali you will have to organize your own transport.
Yes, airport pick-up is included for stays with us for at least 7 days. Once you have provided us with your arrival details our driver will pick you up at the arrival hall of the airport in Denpasar. He will have a sign with the Solid logo on it. Once we have confirmed your airport pick-up, please do not organize your own transport. If you have trouble finding our driver at the airport, please call or Whatsapp Berryl +6282237594817, there is free Wi-Fi available at the airport.
For stays of 6 days and less airport transfer is not included, but of course we can organize this for you! We charge 250K IDR (+- €15,-) per car per one way from Denpasar Airport to Canggu. Please tell this with your booking if you want us to arrange an airport transfer for you.
Most of the following airlines include a surfboard as part of your regular bag allowance and let that fly for FREE. These are our preferred ‘surfer friendly’ airlines and we recommend that you travel with them. You might have to pay a little more to book your ticket but it’s better than paying an extra 200-300 euro to take your quiver both ways. Most of the surfer friendly airlines are in the top 20 worlds best airlines as well so it comes with great onboard services as well – worth the extra money!
SUPER SURFER FRIENDLY AIRLINES
- Virgin
- Qantas
- Garuda Indonesia
- Air New Zealand
- Qatar Airways
- Emirates
- Etihad
- Singapore Airlines
YOU SUCK AIRLINES + €100
- American
- Continental
- KLM*
- United
*Yes KLM is still in the suck department as they offer board for ” free” but you can only take one piece of luggage. So either board for free or suitcase for free. Guess what the suitcase add-on will cost you? Yep, another €100,- one way. You not allowed to put clothes in your board bag either.
SCROOGE
- Delta
- Iberia
- Japan Air
- Luthansa
- US Air
- Northwest
- Alitalia $260
- Swiss Ari $250
- Thai Air $150/ board
- United $200
- All Nippon $300
SURFING
Bali surfing conditions are excellent all year round! One of the best surfing locations in the world and offers year round the best surf you will find on the planet. If we have to give a indication when the swell is absolutely world class, then it is during the dry-season months: May till late October. Basically for all levels of surfer Bali is good all year round.
Bali is a very busy destination for us as a surf camp. We have only offers in Winter. The main season is: March until the end of December. The Off-Season is: January to February, but Bali is very busy and off-season hardly exists anymore.
Please note that our surf house is almost fully booked all year round. So reserve your place in time to make sure you have a room with us.
Yes you can! We offer insurance for just €35,- a week that covers any damage or loss to our equipment (surf boards, fins & leashes) while surfing. Better safe than sorry!
TRANSPORT AND SCOOTER
To be legal you need an Indonesian or international license. You can get an international license in your home country, however, if you are not entitled to drive a scooter in your home country then you will not be able to drive one in Bali. That being said, most people actually drive a scooter or car without an international license. Indonesia is a highly corrupt country, so if you get pulled over you will need to hand the officer approximately 50.000 Rupiah (3 euro). This will usually do the job.
VACCINES AND SAFETY
Dengue fever is one of the most common mosquito-borne diseases in Indonesia. These mosquitoes commonly breed in warm, humid weather and in stagnant water. Unlike most mosquitoes, dengue-causing mosquitoes bite during the day. Dengue infection along with other acute viral illness pose similar features: fever, bone and joint pain with or without skin rash. There is no vaccine for Dengue fever and there is no cure either. Dengue Fever can be prevented with precautions such as mosquito nets at bedtime and mosquito repellents.
Travellers diarrhoea is a frequent problem when travelling. Even when you are travelling in good conditions, it is not always possible to avoid it because it can transfer through water, food, objects and hands. Good hand hygiene and the correct medications from a travel pharmacy are very useful.
We do everything to avoid you get ill during your holiday: in our Surf House there’s free flow clean water available and all food we serve in our house is fresh and prepared in our very own clean open kitchen.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Moroccan currency is the Moroccan Dirham. 1 euro is approximately 11 Dirham.
The national languages in Morocco are Standard Arabic, Moroccan Arabic and Berber. French is Morocco’s third language and serves as the primary language of commerce and economics.
Excursions can be booked upfront or upon arrival. We advise you to book upon arrival so you still have the choice to either go for an excursion or go for a day of surfing.
- Summer / Winter Clothes
- Bikin / board shorts
- Flip flops
- Sunscreen with high protection
- Mosquitos repellent
- Beach towel
- Camera /GoPro
Morocco is a developped country. It is not nescessary to take Dirhams from your home country. There are plenty of ATM`s around. In the airport you will definitly find 2 or 3 ATM`s. A good starting amount is: 500DH that is equal to about 50 euro.
The weather in Morocco is very consistent and offers a lot of beach time. Mostly sunny and very few rainy days a year. Morocco is known for 320 days of sunny days a year. The coldest months are January and February with an average of 21C to 23C degrees during the day. This is still very much like a spring/summer day in the middle of Europe. Morocco makes a very good sun winter destination where you can easily walk around in your shorty or bikini all year round!
In Morocco it’s 1 hour earlier than in the EU. During Ramadan it’s 2 hours earlier in Morocco.
AIRLINES – AIRPORT & BUS TRANSFERS
If you are in the area of Agadir, your pick-up in Agadir will be free for a minimum stay of 7 nights. For shorter stays we can still arrange a pick-up for you for € 30,- from the airport by car.
A drop-off to Agadir can be arranged and paid on location. The price is € 15,- to the city / bus station and € 30,- to the airport.
If your flight lands in Marrakech you can take a bus to Agadir, our driver will pick you up at the bus stop in Agadir. If you are in another part of Morocco you will need to organize your own transport. The bus is a good way to go.
Once you have provided us with your arrival details our driver will pick you up inside where you exit the airport in Agadir. The driver will have a sign with your name on it. Once we have confirmed your airport pick-up, please do not organize your own transport. If you have trouble finding our driver at the airport, please call or Whatsapp Ayoub +212676889496. Please note that there is no Wi-Fi at the airport. However, if you don’t want to use your own phone you can buy a local simcard with data and credit at the airport or elsewhere.
Agadir Airport would be our first recommendation to fly into. The second best option which can be a very good option, price wise, is to fly into Marrakech.
When your flight lands in Marrakech you have two options:
1. You can reserve with us or arrange yourself a grand taxi to agadir. The costs are high but its the fastest way to get to Agadir and straight to our surf house. Costs are about €110,- / €120,- one way for the taxi. Cost remain the same when the taxi is shared!
2. You can also take the bus (recommended by us). From the airport you take a Petit Taxi to the bus station in Marrakech. There are two bus companies that travel between Marrakech and Agadir: CTM and Supratours. Please book your bus ticket online in advance, especially during public holidays such as Ramadan. As soon as you buy your ticket (don`t forget your return ticket) then you know your estimated arrival time at the bus station in Agadir.
Please call or Whatsapp our manager, Ayoub +212676889496 or email (morocco@solidsurfhouse.com). Our driver will pick you up at the bus stop in Agadir.
Departure:
We will drop you off at the airport in Agadir and also drop you off at the bus station in Agadir for you return to Marrakech. For the bus ticket back to Marrakech, this is part of your own responsibility! We can arrange tickets for your return to Marrakech, only if we have time to arrange it. We are not responsible for any delays or fully booked busses. We buy the tickets that fit your departure time best based on the availability. However, we advise to book your return ticket early in advance by yourself!
Please note that there is no Wi-Fi at the airport. However, there is the option to buy a local simcard (€4,-) with data at the airport or elsewhere.
CTM timetables from Marrakech to Agadir and back at the moment of writing ( please check their website for a current timetable http://www.ctm.ma
RYAN AIR
Route: Eindhoven – Marrakech or Brussels – Agadir or Dusseldorf – Agadir or London – Agadir or London Marrakech
Free Baggage Allowance (FBA) Kg/piece/dimensions: Only hand luggage is free (max. 10 kg. and 55cm x 40cm x 20cm) and you are allowed a small handbag of 35cm x 20cm x 20cm. If you want to book checked baggage it is 15 to 35 euro for 15 kg. depending on your destination and the season.
Surfboard rates: 50 euro one-way flight.
TRANSAVIA
Route: Amsterdam – Agadir or Amsterdam – Marrakech
Free Baggage Allowance (FBA) Kg/pieces/dimensions: Only hand luggage is free (max. 10 kg. and 55 x 40 x 25 cm) If you want to book checked baggage the following fees apply:
- 15 kg: €15 one way
- 20 kg: €20 one way
- 25 kg: €25 one way
- 30 kg: €35 one way
- 40 kg: €45 one way
- 50 kg: €75 one way
Surfboard rates: 40 euro one-way flight.
AIR-BERLIN
Route: Dusseldorf – Marrakech or Dusseldorf – Agadir or Keulen – Agadir
Free Baggage Allowance (FBA) Kg/pieces/dimensions: You are allowed 23 kg. checked luggage and 8 kg. (10 including your laptop) of hand luggage. Hand luggage may not exceed 55 cm x 40 cm x 23 cm.
Surfboard rates: If within FBA there is no charge for a surfboard. If it exceeds FBA you can book an extra suitcase (23 kg.) for 15 to 30 euro depending on the time of registration
JET AIR FLY
Route: Brussels – Agadir/Marrakech
Free Baggage Allowance (FBA) Kg/pieces/dimensions:You are allowed 15 kg. checked baggage and 10 kg. of hand luggage. Hand luggage may not exceed 55 x 40 x 20 cm
Surfboard rates:40 euro one-way flight.
EASY JET
Route: Berlin – Agadir or London – Agadir/Marrakech
Free Baggage Allowance (FBA) Kg/pieces/dimensions: Only hand luggage is free (max. 56 x 45 x 25cm) If you want to book checked baggage the following fees apply: 17 to 31 euro for 20 kg depending on your route
Surfboard rates: 35 euro one-way flight.
SURFING
The best time to surf Morocco is depending on if you are a beginner or a more advanced surfer. For beginners, it is good all year round. For more advanced surfers we advise you to visit Morocco from the middle of September till April.
Morocco is a very busy destination for us as a surf camp. We have offers throughout the year. The main season is: September till end of April. The off-season are: May – June – July & August.
Please note that our surf house is mostly fully booked all year round. So reserver in time to make sure you have a room with us.
Yes you can. We offer insurance for just € 35,- a week that covers any damage or loss to our equipment (surf boards & leashes) while surfing.
VACCINES AND SAFETY
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Sri Lankan currency is Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR). 1 EUR is currently (December 2022) approximately 380 Rupees. However, the currently fluctuates usually between 350 and 390 Rupees per EUR.
The national languages are Sinhala and Tamil, but Sinhala is most common in south, west, and central Sri Lanka. “Thank you” in Sinhala is “Istuti” (pronounce as sthoo-thi)
Yes, you need a tourist visa to enter Sri Lanka. You can easily apply online via Sri Lanka’s official site, if you are staying less than a month. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 more months. The visa process is super simple and you will normally get your approval instantly, but no longer than 48 hours after application. No worries if you would forget to apply for a visa, you can get a 30-day visa also at the airport for a small extra charge.
If you want to stay longer than 1 month in Sri Lanka, it is also very easy to extend your tourist visa online for up to 6 more months.
There’s an ATM to get cash in the centre of Weligama, you can easily get there by tuktuk or by scooter.
The temperature in Sri Lanka is consistent around 30 degrees and a very pleasant water temperature of 27°C. It is day and night warm with temperatures always above 22°C – 26°C during the night and day above 26°C to 30°C for hot and sunny beach days! In Sri Lanka we have two seasons: Dry-Season and Wet-Season, but it also depends on which part of the island you are: west or east. Weligama, where we are, is located in the South-West of Sri Lanka where we have Dry-Season: December to March and Wet-Season: May to September. The monsoon brings rain to the west part of the island during these months, but it mostly rains during the morning and evening.
There’s a 3.30 to 5.30 hours time difference between Sri Lanka and Europe depending on where you are from and if your country has winter or summer time. In Sri Lanka the hour doesn’t change throughout the year, it’s in the UTC/GMT +5.5 time zone all year round. So for example in winter in The Netherlands it’s 4.30 hours later in Sri Lanka, in Summer in The Netherlands it’s 3.30 hours later in Sri Lanka.
We offer excursions in Solid, these can only be booked by asking our hosts while you are staying with us (not upfront). So you still have the choice to either go for an excursion or go for a day of surfing. Which excursions we offer can be checked following this link.
- Summer clothes
- Bikini/board shorts
- Flip flops
- Sunscreen with high protection
- Mosquito repellent
- Beach towel
- Camera/GoPro
- Leggings (some people get surf rash from rubbing against the surfboard or get bad sunburns. The simple solution is either a wetsuit or leggings)
AIRLINES – AIRPORT & BUS TRANSFERS
If you are already in Sri Lanka we have several pick-up and drop-off options. Please mention this with your booking and we’ll inform you about the price and options. From the airport to Solid Surf House we charge €85,- per one way per car. Driving from Colombo Airport to our Surf House takes about 2,5 to 3 hours, depending on the traffic.
We can for sure arrange an airport pick-up for you! From the airport to Solid Surf House we charge €85,- per one way per car. Driving from Colombo Airport to our Surf House takes about 2,5 to 3 hours, depending on the traffic.
Most of the following airlines include a surfboard as part of your regular bag allowance and let that fly for FREE. These are our preferred ‘surfer friendly’ airlines and we recommend that you travel with them. You might have to pay a little more to book your ticket but it’s better than paying an extra 200-300 euro to take your quiver both ways. Most of the surfer friendly airlines are in the top 20 worlds best airlines as well so it comes with great onboard services as well – worth the extra money!
SUPER SURFER FRIENDLY AIRLINES
- Virgin
- Qantas
- Garuda Indonesia
- Air New Zealand
- Qatar Airways
- Emirates
- Etihad
- Singapore Airlines
YOU SUCK AIRLINES + €100
- American
- Continental
- KLM *
- United
*Yes KLM is still in the suck department as they offer board for ” free” but you can only take one piece of luggage. So either board for free or suitcase for free. Guess what the suitcase add on will cost you? Yep, another €100,- one way. Your not allowed to put clothes in your boardbag either.
SCROOGE AIRLINES
- Delta
- Iberia
- Japan Air
- Lufthansa
- US Air
- Northwest
- Alitalia $260
- Swiss Air $250
- Thai Air $150 Per Board
- United $200
- All Nippon $300
SURFING
We are open all year round! High Season in Weligama is December until April, we will find a lot of waves in all surrounded spots in Weligama Bay, Lazy Left, Rams, Jungle Beach,… The rest of the year we will check the waves closeby or drive a bit further to find you the best waves. We have a comfortable surfing truck to take you around!
High Season in Weligama is December until April.
Yes you can! We offer insurance for just €35,- a week that covers any damage or loss to our equipment (surf boards, fins & leashes) while surfing. Better safe than sorry!
TRANSPORT AND SCOOTER
There’s a lot of different transport options in Sri Lanka: by tuk-tuk taxi, taxi car, local bus or train. For short distances, the easiest way to travel in and around Weligama is by tuk-tuk taxi or renting a scooter. We can arrange scooter rental for you, but the experience is required for driving a scooter because the traffic can get crazy with all the tuktuks and local buses. Ask our hosts for more information and prices while you are staying with us.
Walking is possible but not very ideal.
If you want to rent a scooter you need an international license to be legal. You’ll need to get an international driving license for a scooter in your home country. Note that if you are not entitled to drive a scooter in your home country, you will also not be able to drive one with an international license in Sri Lanka.
VACCINES AND SAFETY
No, there’s no malaria detected in Sri Lanka. The recommended vaccines for traveling to Sri Lanka based on the Centers for Disease Control are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Polio, Pertussis, Measles, Rabies, Tetanus, Japanese Encephalitis (if you stay more than 4 weeks) and Yellow Fever (only if you come from a Yellow Fever region). Ideally, you should get the vaccinations 4-6 weeks before travel, as some vaccinations require multiple doses and an immune reaction time.
Dengue fever is one of the most common mosquito-borne diseases in Asia. These mosquitoes commonly breed in warm, humid weather and in stagnant water. Unlike most mosquitoes, dengue-causing mosquitoes bite during the day. Dengue infection along with other acute viral illness pose similar features: fever, bone and joint pain with or without skin rash. There is no vaccine for Dengue fever and there is no cure either. Dengue Fever can be prevented with precautions such as mosquito nets at bedtime and mosquito repellents.
Travellers diarrhoea is a frequent problem when travelling. Even when you are travelling in good conditions, it is not always possible to avoid it because it can transfer through water, food, objects and hands. Good hand hygiene and the correct medications from a travel pharmacy are very useful.
We do everything to avoid you get ill during your holiday: in our Surf House there’s free flow clean water available and all food we serve in our house is fresh and prepared in our very own clean open kitchen.
The terrorist attacks in April 2019 in the capital Colombo were a shock for the country and the whole world… Luckily peace has returned to Sri Lanka and tourism restored as they got green light again for tourists to travel to Sri Lanka since June 2019.
